Filling the running shoes of former Nashoba Regional standout Coby Horowitz would be difficult for anyone, but senior captain Forrest Hangen has become not only one of the elite runners in Central Mass., but an outstanding leader on and off the trails for the third-ranked Chieftains and fourth-year coach Steve Beckwith.

“He was just a 14-year-old kid when I met him,” Beckwith said. “He was a lot smaller when he was a freshman. I look at him now, and he’s so poised and mature. He brings a certain level of maturity and discipline, and that comes across to the other athletes.”

Beckwith said Hangen’s confidence has grown considerably during his four years at Nashoba, and he appears primed to close out his high school career by securing a top-five finish at next month’s Central Mass. Division 1 Championships before making a splash at the states.

“He kind of fits into our cross-country family very well,” Beckwith said. “He works hard, but he knows how to have fun, too. One of the things about him is that he prioritizes what he needs to do. He’s a great leader.”

“I’m definitely a very determined runner,” said Hangen, who turns 18 on Nov. 4. “I definitely try to focus during the race. I just think that running is what I love to do. It’s something I put a lot of time into and a lot of effort into.”

Last year, the 2011 T&G Super Teamer placed sixth at the CMass championships in 15:15.3 while helping the Chieftains finish second to St. John’s High.

At the states, Hangen was 57th, but his time of 16:57 was a season best on a 3.1-mile course. As a team, Nashoba placed eighth at Franklin Park.

Hangen has ample time to get mentally and physically prepared for the postseason because he won’t be competing in any more meets until Oct. 27, when the Chieftains defend their title at the Midland B Championships at Ghiloni Park in Marlboro.

“The two weeks off is definitely a big plus,” Hangen said. “We’ll have time to train and get ready for the big meets. It’ll allow us to get our strength back. I’m looking for good competition to push me to do my best.”

Hangen is fresh off an impressive win in the Class B race at Saturday’s 55th Wachusett Invitational, in which he finished in 16:58.5. The Nashoba harriers dominated, taking four of the first five spots. Hangen was pushed by teammate Mark Puleo, who came in second at 17:11.3.

“I think having people or someone behind me, chasing me down, motivates me to go faster,” Hangen said. “I don’t like to be in a pack. I like to try and break out of packs and lead.”

Hangen’s personal best on Nashoba’s 3.1-mile course is 16:25, a half-minute shy of the school record held by Horowitz (15:55). Hangen is somewhat disappointed he never broke it, but he respects everything Horowitz accomplished.

Horowitz, a multiple T&G Super Teamer, is a junior at Bowdoin College.

“It was on my mind,” Hangen said of breaking the record. “I would have liked to have run under 16 minutes. (Horowitz) was really, really good. It’s a difficult record to break.”

Whitinsville Christian girls’ coach Anne MacKay said her unbeaten Crusaders have a great shot at dethroning defending champion Sutton at the Dual Valley Conference Championships on Oct. 25, but she acknowledged it won’t be easy.

One advantage WC may have, however, is that it’s hosting the conference meet.

“Our course is very hard and very slow,” MacKay said of the Crusaders’ 3.1-mile track. “Sutton is the defending champion, and I think that would be a big upset for us this year to beat them.”

WC could have a psychological edge because it defeated the Suzies earlier this season. The Crusaders also earned a three-point win over a very good Hopedale squad and a one-point victory against a strong Douglas team.

Last year, Whitinsville finished runner-up to Sutton at the conference championships, and its only dual-meet blemish was to the Suzies.

MacKay has high hopes the Crusaders will shine at the Central Mass. Division 2 Championships, too.

Last November, WC came in fifth in the event at Gardner Municipal Golf Course, but it was bittersweet because it was only the third time since MacKay took over the varsity in 1997 that the Crusaders didn’t qualify for states. Only the top three teams advance to the states.

WC is led by the Epplett sisters — Abby, a junior captain and the Crusaders’ No. 1 harrier, and freshman Angie.

Abby owns Whitinsville’s course record in 21:46. A sprinter by trade — she finished third in the 400-meter hurdles at the states last spring — Abby has impressed MacKay.

“I call her a hybrid because she can do it all,” MacKay said. “She likes to run. She’s really a good sport to work so hard and become a distance runner for this season. For her, it’s easy to go out too fast, but I wouldn’t want to be near at the finish line because she’s fast.”